Brake pedal linkage bolt with cir-cli came off bleeding brak

[baller908790]

Neighbor was helping me bleed the brakes about 30 min ago. As he depressed the pedal I heard something snap. He said there was no resistance at all on the brake pedal. I look and this bolt is hanging off the brake pedal linkage. Here is a pic of the offending bolt.

I'm glad this happened while the car was on jackstands and not driving through public roads.

[BLUNT]

Same thing happened to me but I happened to spot the missing clip while doing a pre flight inspection before Vintage. Mine didnt come out but very well could have. Good reminder to check it. And use the e21 clip if you need to replace. Sir Bill Williams has a how to floating around for the trick to get it on easier

[baller908790]

I went to the local autostore and they had a e clip that worked. Guy was busting my chops said it would be 5 dollars. I started counting the dollar bills and he was like hey man I was just joking just take it and the rest of the employees were shocked that I was gunna fork up the 5 dollars. I would have gladly paid the 5 bucks because if this happened on the road who knows what could have happened. Luckily I just installed the 320i brakes and have the drums adjusted to the T which probably would have saved me.

[jimk]

Be careful as to what kind of clip you use. This is safety equipment and BMW uses a clip that is hard to put on and damned hard to remove for just that safety reason. If it falls off while you are driving, you will most likely have "Bought the Farm", cause there won't be any brakes on the pedal.

[BillWilliams]

Per Blunt's post, get a pocket full of the ones on the left: it is used on e-21, PN 34 33 1 120 538.

The one on the right is the standard 2002 circlip.

BMW switched to the one on the left after a number of suicides were reported in trying to place the one on the right.

Well --- it may not have been suicides but there were a high number of screwdrivers being hurled across the garages and excessive cursing going on in front of women and children.